Today's News

Anyone who has ever thought of quitting smoking is encouraged to attend a smoking cessation class from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Marion County Public Library. Anyone who has said, “I’ll quit some day” is welcome to come to this free class. For more information, call (270) 692-6024.

In May, the Lebanon City Council reaffirmed its support for a ban against raising chickens in city limits. Last week, they got a reminder that poultry is still a problem.
At the council’s Aug. 12 meeting, Kim Bell of St. Rose Road said one of her neighbors has had chickens for at least two years, and one rooster specifically has caused frequent problems for her.
"He stays in my yard," she said.

Family members of William J. “Billy Joe” Cecil are trying to help his sons further their education.
Cecil, 40, of Finley died Aug. 11 as the result of a collision involving his 2012 Polaris Razor ATV and a Chevy pickup truck.
Cecil was driving his ATV on Hwy. 208 in Calvary, when Joseph M. Spalding, 28, of Lebanon crossed the centerline in a 2002 Chevy truck and struck the ATV, according to the Kentucky State Police.

The Marion County Fiscal Court has set its tax rates, and they are the same as they have been for several years.
On Aug. 15, the magistrates voted 4-0 to keep the rates the same as in 2012. (Magistrate Roger "Cotton" Smothers was not present at last week's meeting.)
The county's real estate tax rate will remain 8.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. The tangible tax rate and the vehicle property tax rate will both stay at 10.9 cents per $100 valuation.

The owner of the Raywick Bar and Grill has denied responsibility for the death of David Litsey Jr. in his answer to a civil lawsuit filed by Litsey’s father.
Litsey Jr., 22, died Nov. 9, 2012, after he was shot outside of the bar.
Christopher Gribbins, 46, of 821 Dangerfield Road in Hodgenville was indicted for murder in connection with Litsey Jr.’s death. According to court records, Gribbins was identified as discharging a firearm that resulted Litsey Jr’s death.
Gribbins has entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge.

Precocious Beauty, a 2-year-old pacing filly bred in Marion County, won the $108,922 Eternal Camnation Stake on Aug. 17 at Mohawk Raceway in Campbellsville, Ontario, Canada.

Jimmy and LaVerne Avritt of MeadowCreek Farm in Marion County bred and own Precocious Beauty.

The filly set a track record, winning the Eternal Camnation Stake in 1:50.2. This is also the fastest mile this year in North American by a pacing filly, and it was just one-tenth of a second off the world record.

Derrick Hutchins, 24, grew up as a typical country boy.
The son of a EMT/volunteer for the Loretto Fire Department and an elementary school teacher, Derrick had a very normal life. Tony and Mary Kaye Hutchins raised Derrick and his two younger sisters, Erin, 21, and Kathleen, 16, on a beautiful piece of property in Loretto, just feet away from where Mary Kaye grew up as a child.
Derrick loved to hunt, fish and play the guitar.
He played basketball and went to conservation camp every year as a kid.